SEATTLE -- Another late rally and another stellar performance by their bullpen have the Los Angeles Angels in position for a playoff spot in the American League.
Yes there are still 44 games to go, but the Angels find themselves holding one of the two wild card spots in the AL.
"Everybody thinks we're overachieving but we think we deserve to be there," reliever Keynan Middleton said.
Luis Valbuena's two-run homer in the seventh inning pulled Los Angeles even, Albert Pujols added a two-run double in the eighth and the Angels rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
It was the fifth straight win for the Angels and third straight over the Mariners, allowing Los Angeles to leap past Seattle and Minnesota in the wild card standings. In each of the three games, the Mariners' issues with their bullpen have festered.
Valbuena's homer came off reliever Casey Lawrence and after the Mariners got six surprisingly strong innings out of starter Erasmo Ramirez. It was just the third hit of the month for Valbuena, who is batting .103 in August.
Tony Zych (5-3) ran into even more trouble in the eighth. Zych walked the first two batters before giving up Pujols' double to the gap that scored Ben Revere and Mike Trout. Kole Calhoun's single and Andrelton Simmons' sacrifice fly scored Pujols for a three-run lead.
Seattle's bullpen has allowed 13 runs in the first three games of the series, versus just three runs allowed by the Angels' bullpen.
"The story of our season is that we've been up and down," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "We were on a really good high here. We played great on the road trip, but coming back home where our bullpen has been so good the majority of the year, we stubbed our toe."
The Mariners got a strong start from Ramirez after he underperformed in his first two starts since being acquired from Tampa Bay. Ramirez allowed three hits and one unearned run. But all the good from Ramirez's start was quickly undone by the bullpen. Lawrence gave up a one-out single to C.J. Cron and Valbuena's line-drive homer to right field to tie the game at 3-all, followed by Zych's issues in the eighth.
While Seattle's bullpen has struggled, the Angels' relievers have been solid. Starter JC Ramirez was done after five innings following Kyle Seager's 18th home run that gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Jesse Chavez allowed four hits in 1 2/3 innings but was not scored on, helped by two Mariners getting caught stealing and a perfect relay to get Yonder Alonso trying to score from first on Robinson Cano's double in the seventh. Cano was stranded at third as Middleton (4-0) got Nelson Cruz to ground out to end the inning.
Blake Parker worked the eighth allowing one single and Cam Bedrosian pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
"We're not going to get there unless our bullpen continues to perform the way they have," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They've been holding up. Like I said, they've been used a lot but very, very effective."
RETIREMENT
Seattle hitting coach Edgar Martinez got the night off from his regular job as the Mariners retired his No. 11 during an emotional pregame ceremony. It's the second number retired by the club, joining the No. 24 of Ken Griffey Jr. The Mariners made the decision to honor Martinez after he jumped to nearly 59 percent of the vote in baseball Hall of Fame voting this year, in the hope that Martinez gains the needed 75 percent in his final two years of eligibility.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
Angels: RHP Andrew Bailey was reinstated from the disabled list after being out since April due to shoulder troubles. Scioscia said Bailey will be used in some low-leverage situations to start with. The Angels optioned outfielder Cesar Puello to clear a roster spot.
Mariners: Seattle's bullpen shuffle continued with the club selecting RHP Christian Bergman from Triple-A Tacoma and optioning RHP Andrew Moore to help in the bullpen. Moore threw 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on Friday night. Bergman was primarily a starter with the Mariners earlier this season going 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine games, eight starts.
UP NEXT
Angels: Parker Bridwell (6-1) goes for his fifth straight victory. Bridwell allowed one run over seven innings in his last start against Baltimore.
Mariners: Ariel Miranda (7-5) looks to stop his recent slide. Miranda is winless in his last six starts, his last victory coming on June 30.
Yes there are still 44 games to go, but the Angels find themselves holding one of the two wild card spots in the AL.
"Everybody thinks we're overachieving but we think we deserve to be there," reliever Keynan Middleton said.
Luis Valbuena's two-run homer in the seventh inning pulled Los Angeles even, Albert Pujols added a two-run double in the eighth and the Angels rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
It was the fifth straight win for the Angels and third straight over the Mariners, allowing Los Angeles to leap past Seattle and Minnesota in the wild card standings. In each of the three games, the Mariners' issues with their bullpen have festered.
Valbuena's homer came off reliever Casey Lawrence and after the Mariners got six surprisingly strong innings out of starter Erasmo Ramirez. It was just the third hit of the month for Valbuena, who is batting .103 in August.
Tony Zych (5-3) ran into even more trouble in the eighth. Zych walked the first two batters before giving up Pujols' double to the gap that scored Ben Revere and Mike Trout. Kole Calhoun's single and Andrelton Simmons' sacrifice fly scored Pujols for a three-run lead.
Seattle's bullpen has allowed 13 runs in the first three games of the series, versus just three runs allowed by the Angels' bullpen.
"The story of our season is that we've been up and down," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "We were on a really good high here. We played great on the road trip, but coming back home where our bullpen has been so good the majority of the year, we stubbed our toe."
The Mariners got a strong start from Ramirez after he underperformed in his first two starts since being acquired from Tampa Bay. Ramirez allowed three hits and one unearned run. But all the good from Ramirez's start was quickly undone by the bullpen. Lawrence gave up a one-out single to C.J. Cron and Valbuena's line-drive homer to right field to tie the game at 3-all, followed by Zych's issues in the eighth.
While Seattle's bullpen has struggled, the Angels' relievers have been solid. Starter JC Ramirez was done after five innings following Kyle Seager's 18th home run that gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Jesse Chavez allowed four hits in 1 2/3 innings but was not scored on, helped by two Mariners getting caught stealing and a perfect relay to get Yonder Alonso trying to score from first on Robinson Cano's double in the seventh. Cano was stranded at third as Middleton (4-0) got Nelson Cruz to ground out to end the inning.
Blake Parker worked the eighth allowing one single and Cam Bedrosian pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
"We're not going to get there unless our bullpen continues to perform the way they have," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They've been holding up. Like I said, they've been used a lot but very, very effective."
RETIREMENT
Seattle hitting coach Edgar Martinez got the night off from his regular job as the Mariners retired his No. 11 during an emotional pregame ceremony. It's the second number retired by the club, joining the No. 24 of Ken Griffey Jr. The Mariners made the decision to honor Martinez after he jumped to nearly 59 percent of the vote in baseball Hall of Fame voting this year, in the hope that Martinez gains the needed 75 percent in his final two years of eligibility.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
Angels: RHP Andrew Bailey was reinstated from the disabled list after being out since April due to shoulder troubles. Scioscia said Bailey will be used in some low-leverage situations to start with. The Angels optioned outfielder Cesar Puello to clear a roster spot.
Mariners: Seattle's bullpen shuffle continued with the club selecting RHP Christian Bergman from Triple-A Tacoma and optioning RHP Andrew Moore to help in the bullpen. Moore threw 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on Friday night. Bergman was primarily a starter with the Mariners earlier this season going 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine games, eight starts.
UP NEXT
Angels: Parker Bridwell (6-1) goes for his fifth straight victory. Bridwell allowed one run over seven innings in his last start against Baltimore.
Mariners: Ariel Miranda (7-5) looks to stop his recent slide. Miranda is winless in his last six starts, his last victory coming on June 30.
9:10PM,EDT,August 12,2017
Safeco Field, Seattle,Washington
Safeco Field, Seattle,Washington
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Revere grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout singled to left center. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols grounded into double play, third to second to first, Trout out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Segura singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Alonso singled to right, Segura to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Canó struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Cruz struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Seager flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Calhoun grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Simmons popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Cron fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Gamel singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Dyson flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Zunino grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Gamel out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Valbuena struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Maldonado doubled to deep center. | 0 | 0 |
| Cowart lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Revere lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Martín walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Segura grounded out to first, Martín to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Alonso popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Canó walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Cruz singled to left, Martín scored, Canó to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Seager singled to right center, Canó scored, Cruz to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Gamel walked, Cruz to third, Seager to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Dyson struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Trout flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Pujols lined out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Calhoun walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Simmons popped out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Zunino struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| Martín grounded out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Segura singled to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Segura stole second. | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso lined out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Cron doubled to deep left center. | 0 | 2 |
| Valbuena grounded out to second, Cron to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Maldonado flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Cowart safe at first on error by pitcher Ramírez, Cron scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Cowart stole second. | 1 | 2 |
| Revere lined out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| JC Ramirez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Canó flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Cruz flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Seager homered to center (395 feet). | 1 | 3 |
| Gamel grounded out to second. | 1 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Trout grounded out to third. | 1 | 3 |
| Pujols grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jesse Chavez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Chavez relieved Ramírez. | 1 | 3 |
| Dyson singled to right. | 1 | 3 |
| Dyson caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Zunino flied out to center. | 1 | 3 |
| Martín reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Martín caught stealing second, pitcher to first to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Casey Lawrence pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Lawrence relieved Ramírez. | 1 | 3 |
| Simmons flied out to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Cron singled to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Valbuena homered to right (361 feet), Cron scored. | 3 | 3 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| Cowart lined out to second. | 3 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jesse Chavez pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Segura flied out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Alonso singled to shallow right center. | 3 | 3 |
| Canó doubled to right center, Alonso thrown out at home, Canó to third advancing on throw. | 3 | 3 |
| Middleton relieved Chavez. | 3 | 3 |
| Cruz grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Zych pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Zych relieved Lawrence. | 3 | 3 |
| Revere walked. | 3 | 3 |
| Trout walked, Revere to second. | 3 | 3 |
| Pujols doubled to left center, Revere and Trout scored. | 5 | 3 |
| Calhoun singled to right, Pujols to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Simmons hit sacrifice fly to left, Pujols scored. | 6 | 3 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Pennington at second base. | 6 | 3 |
| Cowart at third base. | 6 | 3 |
| Parker relieved Middleton. | 6 | 3 |
| Seager flied out to left. | 6 | 3 |
| Gamel struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Dyson singled to center. | 6 | 3 |
| Zunino struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Christian Bergman pitching for Seattle | LAA | SEA |
| Bergman relieved Zych. | 6 | 3 |
| Maldonado hit a ground rule double to deep left center. | 6 | 3 |
| Cowart grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to third to second, Maldonado out at third, Cowart out at second. Revere grounded out to second. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Seattle - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | SEA |
| Bedrosian relieved Parker. | 6 | 3 |
| Martín struck out swinging. | 6 | 3 |
| Segura singled to center. | 6 | 3 |
| Alonso flied out to right. | 6 | 3 |
| Segura to second on fielder's indifference. | 6 | 3 |
| Canó flied out to center. | 6 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Angels | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Revere LF | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | .252 | .284 | .322 |
| Trout CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .345 | .469 | .698 |
| Pujols DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .231 | .273 | .378 |
| Calhoun RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | .243 | .319 | .371 |
| Simmons SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .303 | .356 | .461 |
| Cron 1B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .262 | .312 | .433 |
| Valbuena 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .187 | .260 | .374 |
Pennington 2B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .243 | .306 | .299 |
| Maldonado C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .233 | .298 | .390 |
| Cowart 2B-3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .300 | .364 | .480 |
| Totals | 33 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 135 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Maldonado 2 (15, Bergman, Ramírez); Cron (8, Ramírez); Pujols (12, Zych) HR: Valbuena (12, 7th inning off Lawrence 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: Valbuena 2 (38), Pujols 2 (72), Simmons (54) SF: Simmons GIDP: Pujols Angels RISP: 2-9 (Maldonado 0-1, Calhoun 1-1, Cowart 0-3, Valbuena 0-1, Revere 0-2, Pujols 1-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Cowart (3, 2nd base off Ramírez/Zunino) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Simmons-Cowart-Cron). Outfield Assist: Calhoun (Alonso at Home). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| The game is underway after a 26 minute delay. |
Game Information
| Stadium | Safeco Field, Seattle, WA |
| Attendance | 45,388 (95.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:11 |
| Weather | 74 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 1 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - James Hoye, First Base - Chris Segal, Second Base - Will Little, Third Base - Jeff Kellogg |
No comments:
Post a Comment